A blog dealing with either the joy of cinema or the agony of cinema--nothing in between.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Rabbit Hole

A marriage is more then likely to dissolve when a child is lost. In Rabbit Hole, we witness a married couple dealing with the loss of their son and trying too keep everything together. It has been 8 months since their boy chased the dog into the street and was struck by a car and the couple is still grieving and not willing to let go: they still watch videos of their son, keep his room the same way. They still even have his car seat buckled in the back of their ride. As they struggle with their grief, they acknowledge their love for each other and try to keep their marriage intact. Though you may not get it from my synopsis, the movie handled the material too light heartedly, a stylistic choice that runs counter to the material. The film earns its recommendation based on the strength of the lead actors. Nicole Kidman, who is so great in so many different roles, finds the right notes as a mother grieving in what may be perceived as an abnormal way of grieving. Aaron Eckhart, who surprisingly and unfortunately has received virtually no recognition for his performance, is exceptional. Rabbit Hole definitely held my attention. I guess that if it were in my hands, I would have handled the material a little differently.